Articles/News - Green School Bus

A study by the Propane Education and Research Council reports that the Los Angeles Unified School District considered the environmental and safety advantages when deciding to operate its buses on the alternative fuel.

A long time ago in a small school district in Colorado, Stan Scheer spearheaded a groundbreaking move. Scheer, now superintendent of a California district, recounts here how his school bus operation delved into compressed natural gas.

Twenty Saf-T-Liner C2e hybrid school buses are being sent to 13 districts, with the last delivery scheduled for Oct. 15. The buses were purchased through a $12.9 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant to the state, which will allow for the replacement of up to 200 of its oldest buses throughout the next school year.

U.S. DOT chief Ray LaHood issues a message urging parents and students to be safety conscious and consider greener alternatives for getting to and from school, such as riding the school bus, walking or biking.

The Los Angeles district receives a National NGV Achievement Award from Natural Gas Vehicles for America and the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation for its efforts to advance the development of natural gas-powered vehicles in the U.S. LAUSD reportedly has the country's largest fleet of school buses that run on the alternative fuel.

More than $5.1 million in Diesel Emissions Reduction Act money goes to six organizations to reduce diesel emissions output by vehicles in EPA Region 7. Four of the organizations will use the money for school bus-related projects that include vehicle upgrades and the installation of pollution-control equipment.

After implementing a no-idling policy for its school buses a few years ago, a Kentucky district posts signs at elementary schools asking parents to turn off their cars while they wait to pick up their kids.

Nine Massachusetts school districts and bus companies have collectively outfitted 72 school buses with pollution-control devices by participating in the state's clean diesel program. The equipment was installed for free through funds designated for the program by the state Department of Transportation.

After noticing buses running for long periods of time in front of his middle school, Daniel Speers set out to show the effects of the exhaust. His campaign convinced the board of education to post anti-idling signs at all schools in the district.

Senators are drafting legislation to renew the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, which provides funding to retrofit or replace school buses and other vehicles. National organizations of state legislatures, county officials and mayors request another five years.

Denton Independent School District will add seven Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision school buses to its fleet of 44 propane units next month. Nine Propane-Powered Visions will be delivered to Zeeland Public Schools this month.

Zonar will subsidize additional data sampling costs for customers who opt to share data with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to help in the development of hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric and battery electric school buses.

Michael Williams of the Texas Railroad Commission commends the association’s bestowal of a $95,654 Clean School Bus grant to Leander ISD and a $110,889 grant to Silsbee ISD for buying propane-powered school buses. Williams cites the environmental and economic benefits of utilizing the alternative fuel.

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